In this illuminating episode, Leah Hadley sits down with Joe Dillon, a trailblazer in divorce mediation and the co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services. Drawing from his 17+ years of experience and an impressive 98% resolution rate, Joe unpacks the fundamentals of effective mediation, why preparation is critical, and how to approach your divorce with clarity and intention.

Key Topics Discussed: 

Joe’s Approach to Mediation: Discover how Joe blends financial expertise with compassionate mediation to help couples reach fair and lasting agreements—prioritizing budgets, assets, and facts over reactive emotions.

Discovery Before Deciding: Both hosts emphasize the importance of gathering all financial and personal information before making major decisions, debunking the myth that you can “wing it” or rely on hearsay.

Mediation’s Reputation & Success Factors: Why does mediation sometimes get a bad rap? Joe and Leah discuss common misconceptions and the real reasons behind high mediation success rates—plus the pitfalls of coming to mediation unprepared.

Looking Forward, Not Back: Joe explains his philosophy of “looking through the windshield, not the rearview mirror,” helping clients focus on building new lives instead of rehashing past grievances.

Financial Mistakes in Divorce: The hosts candidly discuss the dangers of letting emotions drive financial decisions, such as using money to punish your ex or underestimating the cost of living post-divorce—especially regarding budgets and health insurance.

Child-Centered Agreements: The human impact of divorce on children, and how amicable, well-structured agreements can set the stage for healthy co-parenting relationships.

The Role of Education: Joe shares the value of becoming an educated client and points listeners to a wealth of free resources on his website, including a comprehensive online course on mediation and state-specific guides.

Free Resources Mentioned:

Free Divorce Mediation Course: Understand the basics of mediation, the “big buckets” (parenting, child support, alimony, property division), and how the process works.

State-Specific Divorce Guides: In-depth FAQs and guides for divorce in WA, CA, IL, NY, NJ, and PA.

Access the Resource Center & Courses One-on-One Consultations: Schedule a free call with Cheryl Dillon (divorce coach) to explore if mediation is right for your situation.

https://www.equitablemediation.com/

Connect with Joe:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.equitablemediation.com/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfdillon/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/equitablemediation/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/equitablemediation 

Connect with Intentional Divorce Solutions:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/intentionaldivorcesolutions/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahahadley/

YT: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalDivorceInsights

Download our free divorce checklist at https://www.greatlakesdfs.com/divorce-checklist.